BOONE, Iowa—Joye E. Brown, 93, of Boone, Iowa, passed away peacefully in her home on Wednesday, July 5, 2023.
Joye was born on July 23, 1929, in Bloomfield, Iowa, to John P. and Edna C. (Altheide) Harl. She was one of three children. Joye attended school in Bloomfield and graduated as the valedictorian with the class of 1946 from Bloomfield High School. While in high school, Joye was the Drum Majorette of the marching band.
Joye was united in marriage to the love of her life, Philip C. Brown, on March 5, 1947. They made their home in Bloomfield, where Joye was a stay-at-home mother to their four young sons.
In 1964, the family moved to Boone. Joye went to secretary school after moving to Boone. She then worked with her husband at the Boone Blank Book Company, where she worked in ordering and bookkeeping. Joye also worked at Thorp Credit for a brief time. In 1988, Joye and Phil retired, where she enjoyed traveling, fishing, crafting, cooking, and spending time with family. Joye and Phil spent 22 years snow birding in Florida.
Joye was an active member of several social clubs through the years. She loved singing and all things music and was part of several singing groups. You would often catch Joye humming a tune while working around the house. She enjoyed cooking for her family and was known for her homemade bread.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband of 63 years, Philip Brown in 2010; sister, Jeanne McWilliams; and a son, Ronald Lee Brown.
Joye is survived by three sons, Russell Brown of Cumming, Roger (Faye) Brown of Des Moines, and Ralph Brown of Boone; brother, Jerry (Sharon) Harl of Columbia, Missouri; 11 granddaughters; 19 great-grandchildren; and 3 great-great-grandchildren.
There will be a Celebration of Life held from 4:00 to 7:00 P.M. Friday July 21, 2023, at the Schroeder-Reimers Memorial Chapel, 1006 Sixth Street, Boone. There will be a time of sharing beginning at 7:00 P.M. Joye will be laid to rest with her husband at the Iowa Veterans Cemetery at a later date.
Memorials may be left to the Ronald McDonald House or Children’s Make-A-Wish Foundation.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Schroeder-Reimers Memorial Chapel at Sixth and Marshall Streets in Boone. Online condolences may be left to Joye’s family at www.schroedermemorialchapel.com.
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